Standard Notes

standardnotes.com
Knowledge Management
Weekend Project

Free your mind. A free, secure note-taking app with powerful end-to-end encryption and unparalleled privacy features.

How to Replace Standard Notes

Overview

Standard Notes is a free, secure note-taking application that protects notes and files with audited, industry-leading end-to-end encryption. It offers seamless cross-platform syncing on unlimited devices with advanced privacy controls and open-source code. The app provides a single, unified solution for securely storing and organizing notes, files, and various content types without relying on multiple tools.

Features

39 features across 9 categories

Customization(1)

ThemesPremium

Choose from a selection of visual interpretations including Midnight and other styles that change workspace appearance

Also in: monday.com, Obsidian, Smartsheet

Data Management(1)

Data Import & ExportPremium

One-click export option to preserve notes in a simple text file that can later be imported or converted to other service formats

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Data Protection(4)

Automated Backups

Automated backups and secure cloud sync ensure that data is safe and sound

Long-term Revision HistoryPremium

View revisions of notes from the very beginning with infinite undo functionality for frequently edited notes

Nightly Email BackupsPremium

Receive encrypted copies of entire text-based dataset delivered to email inbox daily

Note RecoveryPremium

Move notes to trash where they can later be recovered or permanently deleted

File Management(1)

Secure File Storage

Store and manage files securely with encryption

Also in: Ironclad, monday.com, Smartsheet

Note Types(12)

Budgets and Personal Finance

Track and manage budgets and personal finance notes

Code Snippets

Store and manage code snippets with syntax highlighting

Family Records and Documents

Store family-related records and important documents

Health Records

Securely store health-related records and medical information

Journaling and Diary

Create private journal and diary entries

Markdown Support

Create and edit notes using Markdown text formatting

Outlining and Lists

Create outlines and hierarchical lists for organizing thoughts

Password and Keys Storage

Securely store passwords, tokens, and cryptographic keys

Plain Text Notes

Simple plain text note-taking without any formatting

Rich Text Editor

Write and format notes with rich text formatting capabilities

Spreadsheet Note Type

Create spreadsheet-style notes for data organization

Tasks and Todos

Create and manage tasks and todo lists within notes

Organization(4)

Nested FoldersPremium

Create nested folders from tags with easy drag and drop organization

Note ArchivingPremium

Archive notes to stow them away from main view

Note PinningPremium

Pin notes to the forefront of list for notes requiring recurring focus

Smart ViewsPremium

Build advanced custom queries for viewing and organizing notes, such as showing notes edited in last day or notes with specific keywords

Also in: Hugging Face, Smartsheet, 1Password

Platforms(6)

Android App

Native Android application for mobile devices

iOS App

Native iOS application for iPhone and iPad

Linux Desktop App

Native desktop application for Linux systems

macOS Desktop App

Native desktop application for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)

Web Browser Access

Access notes through web browsers on any device

Windows Desktop App

Native desktop application for Windows

Security(8)

AuthenticatorPremium

Use Standard Notes as an authenticator app to store 2FA secrets for other services

Biometric LockingPremium

On mobile, enable face or fingerprint biometrics to protect app access

End-to-End Encryption

Audited, industry-leading end-to-end encryption where only you have access to the keys required to decrypt your data

Open Source Code

Code is completely open and independently audited by leading security researchers

Passcode LockingPremium

Set a unique passcode to require authentication anytime the app is launched

Password ProtectionPremium

Protect individual notes with an extra layer of security by requiring a passcode to access

Two-Factor AuthenticationPremium

Add an additional layer of security requiring a time-based token to access account

Zero-Knowledge Encryption

Advanced encryption that ensures only the user can decrypt their data

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Airtable

Sync & Access(2)

Cross-Platform Syncing

Seamless syncing of notes and files across unlimited devices including iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Windows, and Linux

Offline Access

Always have an offline copy of your data so you can access notes and files even without an internet connection

Cost Calculator

Pricing data not available for Standard Notes. Check their website for current pricing.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Standard Notes alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 39 features.

Buy Standard Notes

Better Value
Monthly costContact Sales
3-year totalVaries
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Standard Notes saves ~$36,960 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 39 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.